Functional vocabulary 1

• accept, but often associated with initial unwillingness

  accede
• permit something to happen, but often associated with a degree of secrecy or conspiracy

  acquiesce in
• agree to something, often associated with plans, proposals, ideas, etc.

  assent
• consider giving assent or permission, often used in negative contexts

  countenance
• complete freedom to do whatever they think necessary; formal

  given carte blanche
• officially exclude, forbid someone access to something

  to bar
• use your full power to prevent or limit something

  clamp down
• make something illegal

  outlaw
• this is not acceptable

  this is just not on
• complain to someone / complain about something; formal

  remonstrate with somebody / remonstrate about something
• complain in a quiet but angry way

  grumble
• to complain continuously; informal

  gripe
• to complain, usually often; informal

  grouse
• complain persistently; informal

  whinge
• pretended reason for doing something rather than real reason

  pretext
• declared not guilty

  acquitted
• declared someone to be free of blame

  exonerated
• official order stopping or delaying punishment

  reprieve
• agreement to stop war while peace discussions take place

  armistice
• agreement between two enemies to stop fighting for a period of time

  truce
• official agreement, especially between countries

  accord
• praise highly; formal

  extol the virtues/ benefits of
• get positive comments; formal

  earn/win plaudits
• Schleimer (formal)

  servile, obsequious
• opposition to the accepted way of thinking

  dissent
• accept some of the demands of

  make concessions to